William and George Knoch were a couple of young go-getters who ran a cigar factory and tobacco shop in town. The
Holland’s editor praises William and George, saying “the business having been established three years ago by the former, and has grown to very respectable proportions.” Since William was born in 1864, that would make him barely nineteen in 1883, with George a couple of years older.
The Knoch family were long-time Naperville residents. Father Christopher was born in Prussia and mother Josephine was born in France, but they were married in DuPage County in 1860. The birth of son George soon followed with five more siblings after him.
Christopher was a tailor and had a shop on Water Street, now an extension of Chicago Avenue, which is still there today. The small, unassuming building has been empty, on-and-off, for a number of years. Most recently, Dark Horse Pastries, Sugar Monkey Cupcakes, and Ehrina Yarn have been tenants.
Unfortunately, Christopher died in 1874, just 41 years old. Details on how Josephine supported her young family are difficult to discover, but according to the 1880 census, both George and William were already working. In fact, sixteen-year-old Willliam was a “segar maker.” I haven’t seen a direct confirmation yet, but it’s logical to assume William was working for Charles Schulz who had a long-standing cigar business that is also listed in
Holland’s.
I recently talked with a young person, despairing and ready to give up, because the art they wanted to create hadn’t come to fruition yet and they were already over thirty. I also talked with a nearly-retired person, despairing that the opportunity to create art had passed them by.